Several countries rank high on the 2011 Index of Economic Freedom, as reforms begin to bite, while others lag as result of age-old problems, especially corruption.The Index, published by The Wall Street Journal and The Heritage Foundation, evaluates 183 countries based on ten indicators that evaluate openness, the rule of law, and competitiveness. The Index ranks economies according to their economic freedom, which include individual empowerment, non-discrimination, and the promotion of competition, evaluating economic policy developments since the second half of 2009.All Balkan countries ranked slightly below the regional European average, but only Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina received scores below the world average. Macedonia was the highest ranking economy in the Balkans, coming in 55th place out of the 183 countries in the Index.Read the ratings about all Balkan countries here.